Gliperol – a new biofuel

Product used directly as a biofuel or as a biocomponent for diesel fuel.

A brief description of the process

Gliperol is obtained in a cross-transesterification reaction between triacylglycerols of vegetable oils or fats and low-molecular-weight esters, e.g. methyl acetate, at temperature £ 110 °C, under normal pressure, except for the solvent recovery stage, which is performed under reduced pressure. It is a single-stage process, without the necessity to drain the glycerin fraction as a by-product.

Advantages of the technology offered

In the classical method to obtain fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), i.e. transesterification of triacylglycerols with methyl alcohol, the glycerin fraction emerges as a by-product, which must be purified and disposed of. In the proposed technology as a biofuel component is used glycerin in the form of ester derivative.

Production cost of the new biofuel is 30–35 % less than the cost to produce FAME and usage of glycerin as a biofuel component decreases ecological threat related to its purification and processing.

During Gliperol combustion in an engine the amount of greenhouse gases (CO2, CO) and HC created is smaller than from combustion of petrochemical fuel or classical fatty acid methyl esters (FAME).

Equipment

The synthesis is performed in typical apparatus made of acid-resistant steel, employed to obtain fatty acid methyl esters using the classical method (with minor additions).

Advancement of proceedings

There have been developed foundations of the technology to obtain the new biofuel – Gliperol and initial application research has been performed.

No similar technology on the market. FAME production costs are so high, that their production without financial donations is unprofitable. The technology proposed allows to reduce the cost to obtain biofuel by 30–35 % compared to the cost of the classical FAME production method and to evade problems concerning disposing of the glycerin fraction.

Type of expected cooperation

Cooperation in development of the technology, taking into account the scale, ramifications concerning constituents and capabilities of the contracting party.